Northampton Museum and Art Gallery

Northampton Museum reflects the town's proud standing as both Britain's boot & shoe capital and the focus for history of the town through the ages. Step back into a world of shoes with two new galleries funded with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Pilgrim Trust and Northampton Borough Council.

'Life & Sole' shows the history of shoemaking using audio-visual diaplays, interactive exhibits and a re-creation of an old shoe factory. 'Followers of Fashion' continues the story of footwear and celebrates shoe fashions through the centuries.

The story of Northampton's history from the Stone Age to the 20th century is told with objects, sound and film.Both decorative arts and fine arts are represented in outstanding collections, particularly the Oriental ceramics and the 15th to 18th century Italian paintings.

Regular events include temporary exhibitions,lunchtime talks, mornings for the over 60's and sessions for toddlers in term time and school holiday workshops.

This museum has a Designated Collection of national importance.

Venue Type:

Museum, Gallery

Opening hours

Closed since February 2017 for major expansion project.

Northampton Museum & Art Gallery closed at the end of February to allow work to start on a major new expansion project.

The first phase of development will see the creation of new shoe displays and temporary exhibition space, teaching facilities, a café, shop and a selling gallery.

Admission charges

Free Admission

The Boot and Shoe collection held at Northampton's Central Museum and Art Gallery is one of the most extensive collections of its kind in the world, and is a Designated Collection of national importance.

It includes everything from Roman and Medieval footwear to the work of contemporary designers and reflects the vital role of Northampton in the history of shoe making. As well as footwear the collection includes: shoemaking tools and machines; accessories such as buckles, button hooks and polish; fine and decorative art depicting shoes and shoe making and documentary material including trade catalogues and journals, books, documents and photographs. Associated indexes include an index of shoemakers and shoemaking firms, and an index of shoes which are concealed in buildings for luck.

Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.

Resources

A Day and the Seaside

Loans box: Using original photographs and original and replica objects children will investigate what it was like at the seaside in the past. They will compare modern and historical clothing, entertainment and bathing practices. They will learn about Punch and Judy and have a go at putting on their own show.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

Archaeological dig

Facilitated session: How do we find out about the past? Become an archaeologist and fill in the time line using artefacts from Northampton's past.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a session

Resources

Creative approaches to Museum and Gallery Educational Visits

A comprehensive arts resource pack for teachers of KS1, KS2 and KS3 written by the Learning Advisers for Art and Drama from Learning, Achievement and School Improvement in Northamptonshire. This resource has been designed with a strong focus on creativity and the promotion of critical learning and thinking skills to encourage independent learning. Teachers and Museum Officers may use it with a flexible approach and adapt ideas to suit the needs of their learners.

How to obtain

Download from www.learnwithmuseums.org.uk

Resources

Decades of Change

Loans box: Pupils will be able to explore the decades from the 1950s to the 1990s. They will investigate change and continuity using a range of household objects from Northamptonshire homeswith oral testimonies given by the owners of the objects they will investigate domestic life, entertainment, fashion, design, diet, health and technology

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

English Civil War: Was England Turned Upside Down?

Loans box: A carved panelled oak chest, constructed in the style of the period, containing facsimiles of primary evidence (coins, letters and pamphlets). These provide clues for students to discover some of the significant causes of the Civil Wars and consider why people chose sides with particular reference to religion, money and political power. Copies of pamphlets show views from both sides of an "England turned upside down" and letters showing the impact of the wars on a typical family.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

Ethnography

Loans box: Three distinct boxes of ethnographic items from museum's collection have been created. Each box may be used individually, and they are complemented by an accompanying cross-curricular resource pack targeting key stages 2 and 3, with special emphasis on history. The objects come from a wide geographical spread: Asia, Oceana, Australia, Africa, North and South America and a few pieces from distinct ethnic groups in Europe. Used together the box and thematic pack, Representations of Empire, provide good cross-cultural themes and cross-curricular links through looking at Victorian collecting, missionaries, slavery, the lives of people in the Empire, trade, tourism and the stories that objects can tell.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

History of shoes

Facilitated session: Find out more about shoes by looking at footwear through the ages using the museum's extensive shoe handling collection. This visit can be combined with a look at both the 'Life and Sole' and 'Followers of Fashion' shoe galleries. This session can also include shoe making. Local schools may wish to have this session as part of a study of local history.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a session

Resources

I Stand Corrected

Loans box: Learning about disability through museum collections. This resource contains examples of the museum's orthopaedic footwear collection, which provide the starting point for discussions around disability. Pupils will be able to use the collection to analyse and learn about significant issues for people who wear the footwear and try to differentiate between what is fashion and what is function.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

In Our Shoes

Loans box: Students will investigate a range of footwear spanning time and cultures to look at the influence of fashion, occupation, status, wealth, climate and technology on shoe design and manufacture. They will then be able to build up a picture of the life of the characters that wore the shoes and present them in a catwalk show. This will equip the students to then set a design brief and create their own shoe design.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

In the Picture: Multi-sensory box

Loans box: Using the box, contents and supporting materials, teachers can encourage pupils to explore the box using all of their senses. The suggested activities offer an integrated cross-curricular approach and have been designed to be flexible in order to respond to the variety of special needs found in the classroom. The suggested sessions seek to provide space and time for pupil-initiated learning, with activities developing and evolving in response to the children's personal explorations and discoveries.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

Invaders and settlers: Anglo Saxons and Vikings

Facilitated session: Pupils can handle a variety of real and replica artefacts including coins, pottery, instruments and weapons to learn about the life of Anglo-Saxon and Viking age people. There will also be the opportunity to try on replica costume and write their name in runes.

Legacy of the Ancient Greeks

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a session

Resources

Made to last - shoe making

Facilitated session: The workshop allows pupils to explore the characteristic features of Victorian times and find out what impact changes in work had on the lives of real people. In role as shoemakers' children in 1857, the pupils will actively help a Northampton shoemaker discover whether the new machines would put them out of jobs.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a session

Resources

Medicine through time

Loans box: Pupils will have the chance to see, touch and investigate the objects that changed medical history - a powerful learning tool for tactile and kinaesthetic learners. The box contains a selection of original medical objects, timeline with magnetic dates and facts, laminated resource pack, set of laminated copies of original documents. This box may also be used as a stimulus for creative writing, drama, citizenship or lessons at other key stages.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

Sculpture

Facilitated session: using sculpture from the handling collection, students are encouraged to focus on materials, design and practical application. They will gain valuable insight into the work of the sculptor, choice of material, form and materials and design. Students also get the opportunity to make a sculpture

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a session

Resources

Second World War: Evacuee Suitcase

Loans box: How did it feel to be evacuated? Using this suitcase with items that a child would have taken with them, or used at this time, pupils will gain a valuable insight into how difficult it was for children during the war years.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

Second World War: Home Front

Loans box: What was life like for those living in Britain during this difficult time? With original items from the 1940s, use this box and suggested activities to allow pupils to learn about real people and their experiences.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

Second World War: Soldier

Loans box: What was it like to be a soldier? This box contains all the kit and uniform that a soldier would have worn. Pupils can try on the uniform and learn about how difficult it was for soldiers at this time. They can also make comparisons with soldiers fighting in wars today.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

The boot and shoe trade

Facilitated session: Museum staff offer an introductory session on the history of the Boot and Shoe trade and the process of making shoes by hand. Students use the museum displays to find out more about the industrialisation of this local industry,

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a session

Resources

The Collector

Loans box: Designed to inspire pupils in years 7-9 to extend their creative writing skills through the challenge of creating a collaborative chapter in an ongoing story. It uses Museum objects fro Northampton Museum's collection to encourage creative responses. With lesson plans that include suggested activities instructions and timings.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

The Victorian Child

Loans box: With replica and original items to include slates, slate pencils, good behaviour medal, flat caps, mop caps, school bell. Use for teaching students about the life of a child in Victorian Britain.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

The Victorian Home

Loans box: With replica and original items to include box iron, potty, food tin, scrubbing brush, soap and candle holder. Use for teaching sanitation, household chores and lighting in Victorian homes.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

Tile painting

Facilitated session: Study art nouveau and art deco styles then decorate a tile. Contact the museum for further information. Team this session with a visit to 78 Derngate.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a session

Resources

Toys

Loans box: A collection of replica and original toys from Victorian to modern day, including mass-produced and home made examples. The box contains whip and top and skipping rope, teddy bear, Russian dolls, swing toy.

How to obtain

Phone 01604 838544 to book a loans box

Resources

World War One: The Northamptonshire Regiment

Loans box: The suitcase is a conceptual reminiscence, to aid teachers in interpreting the First World War. It contains original artworks, artefacts and reproduction items. The suitcase is designed to promote discussion and provoke a narrative. Rather than give an overview of the war, the suitcase is devised to provide a more human aspect - exploring the effects of the Great War on a Northamptonshire soldier and his family.

Website

Website

Twitter page

Facebook page

E-mail

Telephone

01604 838111

Education

01604 838544

Fax

01604 838720

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.